Rice Regional Dental Clinic receives $561K grant from Delta Dental Foundation to care for young children

WILLMAR - Rice Regional Dental Clinic at Rice Memorial Hospital has received a $561,000 grant from Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation to expand access to oral health care for very young children.
“This three-year project will significantly improve the oral health of the youngest and most vulnerable children in the 17-county service area,” said Dr. Linda Jackson, director of the Rice Regional Dental Clinic, in a news release. “We will work with public health agencies to contact the parents of underserved children on their one-year birthday and extend an invitation for an exam and cleaning sponsored by Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation.”
Well-baby dental screenings are a new concept for many parents, explained Jackson. One-year-olds receive a “knee-to-knee” exam where the child is reclined into the doctor’s lap but still face-to-face with the parent.
“It’s a comfortable, non-threatening way for dentists to quickly examine the baby’s teeth and determine if there is any sign of early decay,” said Jackson. “Early detection is key.”
According to the release, children ages 1, 2 and 3 will be identified through the Child and Teen Checkup program, which serves children on Minnesota health care programs. Qualifying children will receive an informational mailer at six months which focuses on infant oral health care, and another mailer at nine months, reminding parents to schedule their child’s one-year dental visit.
At the well-baby dental visit, children will receive preventive services including dental exams, fluoride varnish, oral hygiene instruction, and nutrition counseling. A critical educational component will include age-appropriate information such as bottle-weaning and dietary information, with the ultimate goal of positively impacting the child’s oral health for his or her lifetime. Participants in the program will also receive a free gift at their one-year exam, and again at their two- and three-year exams, paid for by Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation.